MAKER FAIRE Gets GREEN!
CalCars.org to modify Toyota Prius to "plug-in" hybrid at Maker Faire

"…when we eventually run out of oil, have a worldwide computer crash, or another global catastrophe, it's the sort of people who will subscribe to Make who will help us all survive."
- Knoxville News Sentinel

Sebastopol, CA (March 1, 2006)- Following President Bush's recent endorsement of advanced hybrids, and coinciding with Earth Day weekend, The California Cars Initiative (CalCars.org) will publicly convert a Toyota Prius hybrid into a "plug-in" hybrid during the inaugural Make magazine Maker Faire, April 22-23.

Over two days, CalCars engineers, along with a cadre of volunteers, will build and install a battery pack and make hardware and software adjustments to the stock Toyota Prius. The finished "PRIUS+" will drive back to Seattle, Washington after the Faire with a 10-mile low-speed all-electric range in addition to its regular hybrid extended range.

Unlike a standard hybrid, which uses the gasoline engine to power its battery, a plug-in hybrid adds a larger battery that can re-charge from a household 120-volt outlet. The result: a 100+ MPG plug-in hybrid fueled with gasoline plus cleaner, cheaper, domestic electricity.

Coming to the San Mateo Fairgrounds in San Mateo, CA, Maker Faire is a celebration of science and technology projects and the new Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. "Make was created to expose the fun of technological hacking and discovery - and what could be more fun, not to mention worthwhile, than hacking a real world solution to our world's energy woes?" explained Make magazine publisher Dale Dougherty. CalCars.org founder Felix Kramer added, "If a handful of independent experimenters can create a plug-in hybrid over a weekend, imagine what auto-makers could do in a few months."

In addition to the CalCars project, other Maker Faire highlights include: 6 exposition & workshop pavilions (Weird Science, Ultimate Garage, Robotics, Digital Entertainment/Gaming, Green Tech & Electronics Recycling, Ultimate Workshop), 5-acre outdoor midway, over 100 exhibiting Makers, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, DIY competitions, crafting for Makers, Make: Movies, and the very latest in tools, kits and DIY resources.

The Details:
When: Saturday, April 22, 2006 (10am - 6pm), Sunday, April 23, 2006 (10am - 5pm) Where: The San Mateo Fairgrounds, 2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA
Admission: $12/Adult; $5/Teens; $25/Family; Under 12 free

For the very latest information and updates, please visit: www.makezine.com/faire.

For press information and registration please contact Mark Ballard at 212-255-8455 or mark@rosengrouppr.com.

For more information on CalCars.org, please contact Felix Kramer at 650-520-5555 or fkramer@calcars.org.

About CalCars
The California Cars Initiative is a Palo Alto-based nonprofit startup focused on technology and advocacy. It's a group of entrepreneurs, engineers, environmentalists and other citizens promoting high-efficiency, low-emission cars and harnessing buyer demand to help commercialize advanced technologies. Formed in 2002 by entrepreneur Felix Kramer, CalCars' Technology Lead is Ron Gremban, a CalTech engineer who helped build and drive one of the competitors in the first transcontinental electric car race between MIT and CalTech in 1968. CalCars.org's efforts for "100+MPG hybrids" began to be noticed in 2005 with coverage in major national print and broadcast media. Since then, support for PHEVs has grown among many constituencies, including President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative. CalCars is investigating strategies, including sponsoring a for-profit company to partner with one or more automakers to meet the high fleet demand for PHEVs.

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